Please help me understand - armidex vs. nolvadex

[numero_uno]

Guys, really been trying to understand this issue and I'm not quite there. Would this be the right way to do it:

Week 1-12 - Test E 250mg 2x per week & Arimidex .5 mg ED
Week 13-14 - continue Arimidex .5mg ED
Week 15-18 - discontinue Arimidex & change to Clomid 100/100/50/50 & Nolvadex 40/40/20/20

I have made mistakes with PCT in the past and have been really lucky not to have done any lasting damage. Really want to get this down before starting anything again.

Thanks in advance.

[jpowell]

from what i have read--

start pct 18 days after your last pin of test e.
ur dosage looks "standard" for arimidex.
pct mgs for both are in check.
i wod extended it for 4 weeks though.

[Lil man]

How did you come up with .5 adex ED? The normal suggested beginning dose is .25 Ed or eod

[Capebuffalo]

I would start armidex @.25 eod to start. I prefer clomid 100/50/50/50 and Novla 40/20/20/20. Don't forget hcg.

[Lil man]

Only reason I ask is because I think I'm either over or under on dose and I wish I would have took it a little slower on dose. I'm gonna back off on mine back to .25 eod but jumped the gun a little fast on upping my dose due to what I thought were estro sides.

[numero_uno]

I have a relatively high estrogen level and ratio. My doctor prescribes arimidex at .5 mg ED for me.

I have been off AAS for 2 years now. I want to go back to "square one" at this point. Also, my older brother will be doing a cycle like this (his first) along with me this time and I want to make sure I get everything just right for the both of us. Appreciate the comments thus far. Please let me know if you have any others.

Can anyone shed some light on the reason for the switch from Arimidex to Nolvadex. I've been reading and I just can't quite seem to understand that part.

Thanks.

[gearbox]

You start pct 14 days after test e. And I would run hcg during cycle.

[numero_uno]

I would start armidex @.25 eod to start. I prefer clomid 100/50/50/50 and Novla 40/20/20/20. Don't forget hcg.

Is the HCG really necessary? I have not had great experiences with acquiring that in the past given the need for cold storage. I have a doc who will prescribe it but only on his protocols so I probably can't get it right now.

[castiron]

SOMEONE ANSWER THE QUESTION PLEASE. I would like to know as well. Can anyone shed some light on the reason for the switch from Arimidex to Nolvadex?

[Lil man]

You eventually have to come off the arimidex an when you do you need something to prevent the higher estrogen level from causing bitch tits from what I've read. The nolva blocks the e2 in breast tissue. The arimidex lowers the overall level of e2. My guess would be that there will be a little rebound in e2 once off adex so the nolva will combat the effects

[castiron]

So I am not prone to sides too bad and didnt take an AI at all my last cycle no problem. Just clomid pct. Now If I take Arimidex I will actually have to take Nolvadex during PCT or the missing Arimidex will actually promote gyno? WTF!

I was thinking about some arimidex to prevent bloating next cycle but now maybe not... What do you think?

[Lil man]

I domtthink the nolva is primarily for the use of arimidex. Read why to take nolvadex. But the reason you stop the use of adex prior to nolva is because of the added benefit of having the little extra estro blocked

[Lil man]

I just read that nolva boosts lh, fsh, and test so the use on cycle isn't needed. But def needed pct and the use of adex isn't needed pct.

[BigBadWolf]

I would start armidex @.25 eod to start. I prefer clomid 100/50/50/50 and Novla 40/20/20/20. Don't forget hcg.

Hcg during cycle not during pct.

[numero_uno]

Still a little confused on Arimidex & Nolvadex but feel like I am starting to get it now. Arimidex during cycle to prevent conversion of test to estrogen. Nolvadex after cycle to allow estrogen to come back to "normal" levels but to still control potential side effects. Still wish I had a better understanding of WHY that is, though.

[numero_uno]

Hcg during cycle not during pct.

Is the HCG necessary? I assume the goal by taking it during cycle is to allow test to continue to be produced by your body on its own, correct?

[Noles12]

Nolvadex is a SERM. SERM stands for Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator. This is used on cycle to prevent gyno. It is an antagonist prevents estrogen from binding to tissues at the breasts.

Arimidex is an AI. AI stands for Aromatase Inhibitor. Aromatase is the main enzyme in the production of estrogen. So an aromatase inhibitor blocks the aromatization of androgens into estrogen.

Arimidex will have an effect on estrogen synthesis throughout the body while Nolvadex mainly blocks the production at breast tissue.

For PCT:

Luteinizing Hormone, or "LH", is made by the pituitary. LH is what stimulates the testis to make testosterone. Testosterone is converted to estrogen. When the pituitary sees more estrogen it slows the production of LH. (So when you are on test, the pituitary see the increased testosterone as potentially increased estrogen and therefore stops LH production which in turn stops natural production of test).

SERMs (ie Clomid and Nolvadex) both bind to the pituitary and make it think less estrogen is present so it will produce more LH and in tur natural test will increase.

AI's do not have the same effect. Though they decrease estrogen production they do not have as much of an effect on the pituitary in releasing LH.

Therefore SERM's are a better route for PCT

[Capebuffalo]

Hcg during cycle not during pct.

Your right. Hcg was a last min thought. Hcg trough cycle not for pct.
Hcg not necessary but makes recovery so much easier. And keeps you from testicular atrophy. Why wouldn't you.

[jpowell]

You start pct 14 days after test e. And I would run hcg during cycle.

Yes 14 days not 18. 18 for c.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum

[numero_uno]

Nolvadex is a SERM. SERM stands for Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator. This is used on cycle to prevent gyno. It is an antagonist prevents estrogen from binding to tissues at the breasts.

Arimidex is an AI. AI stands for Aromatase Inhibitor. Aromatase is the main enzyme in the production of estrogen. So an aromatase inhibitor blocks the aromatization of androgens into estrogen.

Arimidex will have an effect on estrogen synthesis throughout the body while Nolvadex mainly blocks the production at breast tissue.

For PCT:

Luteinizing Hormone, or "LH", is made by the pituitary. LH is what stimulates the testis to make testosterone. Testosterone is converted to estrogen. When the pituitary sees more estrogen it slows the production of LH. (So when you are on test, the pituitary see the increased testosterone as potentially increased estrogen and therefore stops LH production which in turn stops natural production of test).

SERMs (ie Clomid and Nolvadex) both bind to the pituitary and make it think less estrogen is present so it will produce more LH and in tur natural test will increase.

AI's do not have the same effect. Though they decrease estrogen production they do not have as much of an effect on the pituitary in releasing LH.

Therefore SERM's are a better route for PCT

This was a very helpful post and exactly what I needed (a plain english explanation of the difference between the two). Thank you.

Follow up question, if a person had reason to believe that they were prone to gyno, would it make sense to run a low dose of Nolvadex along with the Arimidex during the cycle and continuing into PCT?

[Noles12]

If you are running arimidex you should not need to run Nolva as well on cycle. Start your arimidex dosage low and increase it as needed. Have Nolva on hand in case any issues arise. If nothing comes up the run the Nolva only in PCT.

As i said in my previous post, AI's do not allow for aromatase, the enzyme in estrogen production, to produce the estrogen. Therefore there should be no wories of estrogen trying to bind at the breast tissues which means no need to run Nolvadex as well

[kif]

Noles I've read before that it's bad to run Nolva and Ldex at the same time, is this true? If so why is that?

[Noles12]

Noles I've read before that it's bad to run Nolva and Ldex at the same time, is this true? If so why is that?

From what i understand is that it is believed Nolvadex will reduce the serum levels of arimidex when taken together.

[kif]

Thanks for clearing that up man

[numero_uno]

...As i said in my previous post, AI's do not allow for aromatase, the enzyme in estrogen production, to produce the estrogen. Therefore there should be no wories of estrogen trying to bind at the breast tissues which means no need to run Nolvadex as well

This makes sense to me.